Like We Were Born To Move – Abbey (Peacock Stage) – Review
by Frank L

Dates: 14 – 19 August On the Peacock stage 
Like We Were Born To Move – Written by Eimear Hussey

Eimear Hussey is a relatively recent appointment as playwright with the National Youth Theatre, having obtained her degree in drama and theatre studies from Trinity in 2022. She is interested in theatre for young audiences so as a playwright she is in the right place at the National Youth Theatre which has as one of its objectives to showcase theatre that has been created by, for and with young people. To achieve this, the National Youth Theatre works by bringing young people from all over Ireland to work together for ten months. On the night this reviewer saw the play, the predominant age of the audience was indeed young which was a joy to see and something of a rarity. It also meant that there was a different dynamic in the auditorium. It’s not easy to define but perhaps the enthusiasm of youth was palpable, both in the foyer and in the auditorium before a word of the play was spoken.

The play is set post-pandemic and the cast consists of sixteen young people who create a vastly diverse physical group on stage. But as the play reveals their individual circumstances also encompass a kaleidoscope of a 21st-century liberal society: straight, gay and other identities, spiritual, religious and non-religious and from a variety of socio-economic backgrounds. Like all young people, they must grapple with the unknown of becoming adults, negotiating life with individuals whose worlds are different and making choices which are inevitably not easy.

To create the scenario in which this can all take place, Hussey has created an apartment of some size where these young people are able to come and go and interact with each other. She achieves this through a series of scenes in which various small groups of two or three characters interact with each other and discuss with verve whatever issue is of concern to them. It all moves at a smart clip with scene changes taking place seamlessly and rapidly. However, there is one area where this eclectic group of young people come together and that is the world of dance. All their differences blend into one in this activity.

There are several dance sequences throughout the play and it is impressive how this diverse group of actors in terms of size and physical attributes come together to make a cohesive whole.  They move as one and the hours of disciplined work and rehearsal show. This collective activity stands in stark contrast to the individual issues which each character has and over which the individual scenes agonise. Those issues are manifold but include relations with parents and grandparents, friends of different sexual orientations, housing and much else besides.

Youth Theatre Ireland has created two hours of theatre which undoubtedly engaged the mostly youthful audience. Importantly this troupe of young actors made no attempt to suppress their wonderful smiles as they deservedly took their bows at the end. They and their youthful audience are where the future of theatre lies.

Credits
Performer: Noreen Angozi
Performer: Millie Bolger
Performer: Eoghan Flanagan-Healy
Performer: Setanta Flood
Performer: Eoin Gilmartin
Performer: Andrew Keegan
Performer: Isobel Koppe
Performer: Richie McDonnell
Performer: Jack Murphy
Performer: Faith Olasgoba
Performer: Evie Paul
Performer: Amelie Prone
Performer: Anna Scott
Performer: Conall Sheerin
Performer: Leah Sheridan
Performer: Jasmine Walsh

Director: Niall Cleary
Writer: Eimear Hussey
Set Designer: Choy-Ping Clarke-Ng
Lighting Designer: Sarah Jane Shiels
Composer and Sound Designer: Denis Clohessy
Design & Tech Ensemble: Aoife Sheridan
Design & Tech Ensemble: Briana Gawley
Design & Tech Ensemble: Rhianna Clerkin
Movement Director: Olwyn Lyons
Costume Designer: Mae Leahy
Dramaturg: Carys D. Coburn
Assistant Director: Rebecca Feely
Producer: Kelly Phelan
Line Producer: Sophie Coote
Stage Manager: Sara Gannon
Youth Theatre Ireland Director: Eoghan Doyle
National Programme Co-Ordinator: Rebecca Feely
Child Protection and Wellbeing Officer: Cathal Thornton
Design Mentor: Jack Scullion
Production Manager: Pius McGrath
Set Builder: Colin Bartley
Scenic Artist: Emily Waters